title: [The prevalence of serological markers for the human immunodeficiency virus and the hepatitis B virus in a psychiatric hospital].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and antibodies to delta virus (anti-DV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional (prevalence) study. A non-proportional (stratified by length of stay) random sample of 20% of admitted patients was selected.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Hospital Psiquiátrico Nuestra Señora de Montserrat (Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain) admits about 670 patients in its short-term, rehabilitation (mid-term) and long-term wards.
  
  
  METHODS
  139 patients were selected: 91% were males, mean age was 55 years, and 10% belonged to an HIV risk group; mean length of hospitalization since last discharge was 13 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were drawn in October, 1988. Anti-HBc, HBsAg and anti-DV were determined by competitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Anti-HIV-1 were determined by sandwich EIA; negativity of results with high absorbency but below the cut-off point was confirmed by Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the sampled patients had circulating anti-HIV-1 antibodies. Four cases showing high absorbency (below the "cut-off" point) were ruled out by Western-blot. Overall, the prevalence of anti-HBc was 52.8% (54.4% in long-term wards, 35.0% in mid-term wards, and 13.8% in short-term wards). The prevalence of HBsAg was 2.3%, of anti-DV 1.5%, and of HDAg 0%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of anti-HIV is null in the studied institution. Current efforts to prevent HIV infection must continue; a hepatitis B vaccination program is highly warranted among patients and professionals of the studied hospital.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Bioquímica e Inmunología, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prats
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porta Serra
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yazbeck
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gassó
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000276:immunology; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
vernacular_title: Prevalencia de marcadores serológicos para el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana y el virus de la hepatitis B en un hospital psiquiátrico.